Purpose
This study aimed to investigate the impact of physical performance and fear of falling on fall risk in patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) undergoing hemodialysis. Methods: This study included 132 patients who regularly received hemodialysis treatment at outpatient clinics in B City from January to April 2022. Data were collected on demographic and clinical characteristics, physical performance (the Short Physical Performance Battery [SPPB]), fear of falling (the Korean Falls Efficacy Scale-International [KFES-I]), and fall risk (the Morse Fall Scale [MFS]). The collected data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression in the SPSS/WIN 25.0 program. Results: Thirty-eight patients (28.8%) had experienced accidental falls in the past year, with an average of 1.68 falls per patient. The average SPPB score was 7.89±3.55 (range, 0 to 12), the KFES-I score was 23.18±9.36 (range, 16 to 64), and the MFS score was 45.68±19.52 (range, 0 to 125). Fall risk showed a significant negative correlation with physical function (r=-.72, p<.001) and a significant positive correlation with fear of falling (r=.65, p<.001). Factors affecting the patients' fall risk included the level of serum intact parathyroid hormone (β=.15, p=.004), fear of falling (β=.24, p=.010), number of falls (β=.34, p<.001), and physical performance (β=-.41, p<.001). The regression model was statistically significant (F=22.71, p<.001), with an explanatory power of 64.9%. Conclusion: To prevent accidental falls in ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment, it is necessary to develop and apply interventions that can enhance physical performance and reduce the fear of falling.

Citations

• Fear of Falling among Elderly Individuals with Various Medical Conditions
  T.K. Konovalchik
  Clinical Psychology and Special Education.2025; 13(4): 76.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
This study aimed to verify the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Basic Physical Capability Scale (BPCS-K).
METHODS
The BPCS was translated into Korean using forward and back translations. Data were collected from January 16 to May 10, 2019. The study participants comprised 285 older adults, with 147 recruited from an acute care setting, and 138, who had dementia, were from long-term care facilities. Data analysis included KR-20, intraclass correlation coefficient, independent t-test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, hierarchical multiple regression, and Rasch analysis (item difficulty, infit/outfit, separation index, reliability index, and differential item function analysis), and were conducted using SPSS/WIN 25.0 and R programs. The criterion-related validity was examined using the Barthel Index.
RESULTS
The KR-20 reliability coefficient was .93 and the intraclass correlation coefficient for 2-week test-retest reliability was .97. The BPCS-K scores were significantly different compared to the known groups. Moreover, controlling for age, gender, and cognitive status, the Barthel Index score was significantly associated with the BPCS-K scores. Rasch analysis supported good construct validity.
CONCLUSION
The findings suggest that the 16-item BPCS-K is an appropriate instrument to measure basic physical capability in Korean older adults. The BPCS-K can establish individualized physical activity goals for the elderly in a variety of clinical settings and can also serve to measure changes of physical function in physical activity interventions for older adults.

Citations

• Validity and Reliability of the Korean Version of Assessment of Health Literacy in Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening
  Hye Sook Shin, Eunlim Chi, Hae-Ra Han
  Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing.2021; 51(6): 769.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
This study was conducted to develop and test an explanatory model on functional capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using path analysis. METHODS: Data were collected from 149 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients using 6-minute walk test, measurement of oxygen saturation, pulmonary function test, and self-reported questionnaires from June to October, 2005. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 12.0 program and AMOS/WIN 4.0 program. RESULTS: The overall fitness indices of modified model were good( chi-square = 14.324, p = .281 GFI = .981, RMSEA = .006, AGFI = .944, NFI = .927, NNFI = .999, CFI = .999, PNFI = .613, chi-square /df = 1.194). Functional capacity was influenced directly by age(beta = -.304, p = .000), dyspnea(beta = -.278, p = .000), self-efficacy(beta = .240, p = .000), social support(beta = .175, p = .004), pulmonary function(beta = .169, p = .008), and oxygen saturation(beta = .099, p = .048). These variables explained 39.3% in functional capacity. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that comprehensive nursing interventions should focus on decreasing dyspnea and increasing self-efficacy, social support, and oxygen saturation. In this perspective, pulmonary rehabilitation would be an effective strategy for improving functional capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify effects of a self-management program on symptom and functional status, health perception, and quality of life(QOL) of patients with CHF.
METHODS
Patients with CHF as defined through clinical judgment using the Framingham criteria and EF<50% were enrolled in the study (experimental: 21, control: 20). The symptom focused self-management program consisted of coping behaviors for symptoms including dyspnea, chest discomfort/pain, dizziness, ankle edema, and basic self-management including medications, diets, activity, lifestyle changes. Experimental group received an educational booklet after survey, and periodic telephone follow-up by a trained nurse. Data were collected the 3rd day after admission and at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after discharge using questionnaires.
RESULTS
Significant differences were found in the presence of symptoms, health perception, and QOL between groups during follow-up. Although no significant difference was found in functional status, the experimental group reported better functional status than the control group.
CONCLUSION
By facilitating self-management of CHF using tailored interventions including education programs and telephone monitoring, it is expected that patients will be able to monitor their symptoms routinely, adhere to therapeutic regimen, and have a better QOL.

PURPOSE
The purposes of this study were to examine 1) functional status at 2 months after hip fracture surgery 2) health care utilization after a fall episode and 3) fear of falling experienced during first 2 months after a fall episode.
METHOD
With a convenient sample of 99 elderly from six university or general hospitals with hip fracture from a fall, data were collected at 2-3 days before discharge and at 2 months after hip fracture surgery.
RESULT
1) At 2 months after hip fracture from a fall, significant proportion (25.3%) of elderly was not able to walk indoors. 2) Average length of hospital stay was 27.6 days with a range of 8 to 86 days. About 51% subjects received physical therapy during hospital stay, and only 6.1% subjects received physical therapy following discharge from the hospital. 3) Significant proportion (72.7%) had fear of falling after the fall episode. About 51% reported that they restricted their activities because they had fear of falling.
CONCLUSION
Fall is a dreaded event which result in loss of independence and restriction of activity. Development and application of fall prevention program is critical especially for those with risk factors of fall.

PUPPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the patterns and related factors of fatigue in patients with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy.
METHOD
31 women with breast cancer receiving radiotherapy were recruited from the out-patient radiologic clinic of the university hospital in Seoul, Korea over a period of 3 months. Data was collected prospectively concerning three points for 5 - 6 weeks : before radiotherapy(T1), 2 weeks after starting radiotherapy(T2) and the completion of radiotherapy(T3). Data were analysed by repeated measure ANOVA, Pearson correlaton, and multiple regression.
RESULT
1. Score of fatigue increased significantly over the course of radiotherapy. 2. Score of symptom distress and emotional distress increased and functional status scores decreased significantly over time. 3. Fatigue was positively related with symptom distress and emotional distress and negatively related with functional status over the course of radiotherapy. 4. At T2, emotional distress explained 24.7% of the variation in fatigue. At T3, symptom distress(41.9%) and emotional distress(7.2%) explained the variance in fatigue.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study provided evidence that fatigue increased over the course of radiotherapy and symptom distress and emotional distress were influencing factors of fatigue in this group. The results of this study suggest that comprehensive intervention strategy for fatigue should be developed to maintain quality of life during and following radiotherapy considering these factors.

PURPOSE
To exam how functional status varied according to age, gender, stage, treatment protocols, and pathologic types of cancer in lung cancer patients.
METHOD
A Cross-sectional and descriptive study was used. Functional status was measured with the Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36. A total of 106 lung cancer patients participated. Their mean age was 61 years. Majorities were male, in advanced stages, and receiving chemotherapy.
RESULT
Functional status of the subjects were relatively low compared to the results of previous studies. Women had more severe functional limitations in Role-Emotion(t=2.17, p <.05). Generally, older patients(> 60 yrs.) had relatively more severe limitations in all subcategories, but the difference was not statistically significant. Subjects in late lung cancer stage(stage III and IV) had more severe functional limitation in all subcategories. But the statistical difference was found only in General Health(t=2.10, p<.05). In terms of treatment protocol, no-current treatment group had lower General Health than those of the chemotherapy group(F=3.42, p<.01). There were no statistical differences in functional status among pathological cancer cell types.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study suggest that effective management may be achieved when these factors are considered on individual basis in the clinical management of lung cancer patients.